Ington



(No Model.)

F. A. HETHERINGTON.

PHOTOGRAPHIG GAMERA. No. 463,123. Patented Nov. '10, 1891.

my r00 %m@m& 62AM WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. I-IETHERINGTON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,123, dated November 10, 1891.

Application filed March 20, 1891. Serial No. 385,744. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. IIElI-IER- INGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to that class of cameras commonly known as hand or detective cameras; and its object is to provide means by which the necessary manipulation of the lenssuch as adjusting for focus and changing the diaphragms or stopsmay be accomplished without having to open any part of the camera box or body, while at the same time these adjustments may be made under positive control and the result be at all times known to the operator.

It is further the object of this invention to so combine these improvements with the main body of the camera that all of the parts may be readily removable for inspection in order that the operator may examine and understand the nature and construction of the parts, and thus be enabled to operate them understandingly.

It is still further the object to attain such mechanical combinations as shall reduce the liability to error on account of lost motion in the operating parts to a minimum amount, and also to obtain a comparatively large amount of movement of the indicator-plate for a small amount of motion of the lens, thus making it possible to have the focus-indicating points upon the dial-plate widely separated and distinct from one another.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a section of the front end of a hand-camera box with the near side removed in order that the interior may be seen. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as it would appear if Viewed from the interior of the box, with the eye in the focal plane of the sensitized plate or film. Fig. 3 is a detailed face view of the sunken metalcup or plate A, Fig. 2. This is not shown in Fig. 1 on account of the side being removed. Fig. 4 is an inside face view of the indicating-dial plate B, Fig. 2, which is mov ably secured to the inside face of cup A. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing the manner of combining the parts shown in Figs. 3 and at. Fig. (3 is an enlarged detail section at w 00, Fig. 2, showing the method of attaching these parts in order that access may be had from without the box.

Similar letters refer to similar parts thronghout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 0, Fig. 1, is the front end of the box and is not detachable from the box.

G is the bottom of the box, as shown.

F F, Figs. 1 and 2, and H, Fig. 1, show rabbet-grooves out into the sides and bottom. Those in the sides of the box are intended to receive a sliding lid or cover; The rabbetgrooves II ll, Figs. 1 and 2, are cut into the sides and bottom of the box and receive a front board I), which is fitted into them, so that it may be withdrawn at will. This removable front board I), together with its attachments and also the attachments B and A in the side of the box, form the subject-matter of my invention.

I is an outer lens-casing attached by a flange or otherwise to the front board D, as shown.

J is the lens tube or mount, and it is arranged to move in the direction of its axis within the outer casing I. In one side of the casing I a slot is cut, as shown in Fig. 1. Attached to the lens-tube J is a pin K, which moves in the slot in the outer casing. Connecting with this pin K is the ring or yoke of an eccentric L, which is fixed to one end of the shaft M, as shown. One end of this shaft M passes through the eccentric L and is pivoted into the casing I. The otherend passes through a binding-post N, and is then bent at right angles in the style of a crank. This crank end of the shaftis so set or located that when the front board is slid down into position the crank will drop into and be received by a channel-shaped piece 0, attached to the back of the dial-plate B, as shown in Figs. 2, at, and 5. The face of this dial-plateB in the surface that adjoins the cup piece A is stamped or engraved with figures or other i piece is raised, as shown in Fig. 1, thus formcharacters which signify certain set focal distances.

Through the bottom of the cup-piece A is cut an opening, as shown at S, Fig. 3, and the act of revolving the dial-plate by means of the finger-piece P ,will bring consecutively under the opening in the cup A the figures upon the dial l3, and as each one of these figures indicates the position of the lens with relation to the sensitive plate the adjustment is thereby accurately known to the operator, it being understood that any rotary movement of the dial 1? will cause a lateral movement of the lens J by means of the shaft M and the eccentric L. It is evident that a crank and connecting-link may be used instead of an eccentric. I prefer, however, to use the eccentric on account of the lesser liability to wear and derangement. The cup-piece A is let into and secured to the casing of the box, as shown in Fig. 2, and does not rotate.

Referring to Fig. 3,1 is a finger-piece hav ing one end bent to form a spring and to engage with notches cut into the inner periphcry of the cup A. It is the office of these notches to hold the dial securely in the position in which it is left by the operator, and they also enable the operator to make the adjustment without any very close inspection of the dial, for he will know that the dial is set exactly in position when he feels the fingerpiece drop into the notch.- The adjust-- ment may therefore be made quicklyand accurately. Means being thus provided for the purpose of moving the lens, it becomes necessary to arrange the diaphragmsor steps so that they may be operated in such manner as will be in harmony with manner of lens adjustment. To accomplish this I arrange the diaphragm-openings in one continuous piece of thin metal or other suitable material and arrange the device so that it may be free to move laterally with the lens-tube and yet be under control of the mechanism which operates to bring the different openings into position, as required.

Referring to the drawings, Q is the diaphragm-plate.

R is a bent lever engaging with a slot in the lower end of the diaphragm-plate and upon which the diaphragm-plate is free to move laterally.

S is a post attached to the front board, as shown in section, Fig. 6, and is so constructed and attached that by the application of a key it may be revolved in its socket. To this post is attached the lever B, and by using the key the diaphragm-plate may be caused to slide up or down through openings cut through the outer casing of the lens and the lens-tube, as shown.

In order that the operator may know which opening of the diaphragm is in position, a piece T is provided upon which the lever B rides in spring-contact. Either end of this in g stops for the lever. The intermediate position is determined by a notch cut into the edge of the piece T, as shown at U, Fig. 2. The lever will drop into these notches with a snap that can be readily felt by the operator and no further indicating device will be needed. The lower end of the diaphragmplate Q is free to move laterally upon the bent end of the lever B, which engages in a slotted hole, as shown.

I will state, in general, that the shutter is not shown in the drawings. The shutter, of any suitable design. may be attached to the front board on the side opposite the lens and be recessed into the board, so that it may set into contact with the inner side of the front end of the box. Openings must be cut through both the front board and the end of the box for the access of light to the lens, as shown in dotted lines. An opening must also be cut for the key that operates the diaphragmlever.

I am aware that the application of a series of diaphragm-openings in a continuous metal plate or strip, operated through slots in the lens-tube, is not new. I am also aware that it is not new to obtain focal adjustments by laterally moving a lens in an outer casing and obtain readings therefrom upon an indicator-plate upon the outer side of the box. I therefore do not claim these combinations, broadly; but

\Vhat I do claim, believing to be new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a photographic camera, the combination of an outer lens-casing and a laterallymovable lens tube or mount contained therein, with an eccentric so connected as to impart lateral mot-ion to the inner lens-carrying tube or mount, and an indicating plate or dial upon the inside of the camera-body so arranged that the indicative characters upon its face may be made to pass visibly before an opening in the outer case of the camera box or body, substantially as described and set forth.

2. The combination, in a photographic camera, of a lens-adjusting eccentric or crank attached to or part of an operating-shaft, with an indicating dial or plate upon the inside of the box so arranged and operated as to impart lateral motion to the lens by reason of its connection with said operatingshaft, substantially as shown and described.

The combination, with the finger-piece of a lens-focusing device in a photographic camera, of a plate, cup,'or disk havingnotches 0r detents in its surface intended to be engaged by the finger-piece, substantially as described, and in the manner set forth.

4. The combination, with a photographic lens, of a diaphragm plate or strip so arranged as to be operated from without the body of the camera by means of a key or button, and an inner lever connecting with the diaphragmpiece, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a laterally-adjustable lens having 5 a diaphragm-strip, as shown, of an operatinglever arranged to drop into detents or notches in a guide piece or rail, and means of access for operative purposes from Without the camera-body, substantially as shown and described.

FREDERICK A. lIE'lIlERlNGTON. \Vitnesses:

HERMAN F. GARTH, CARL O. KOERNER, Jr. 

